Ragnor I finally left at dusk as planned, alone. The forest greeted me with a bitter chill, the air heavy with the scent of earth and decay. No warriors trailed behind me, and Dwayne’s objections still echoed in my ears. He had pleaded to accompany me, but I refused. This was my journey. My burden to bear. The beast within me growled low, restless and impatient. It had grown louder these past weeks, a constant presence in my mind, scratching at my sanity. No one knew this, and why should they? I could carry this curse on my own. “Damn… It’s far,” I muttered, the words barely audible in my wolf form. Every step I took into the forest felt like a step closer to the abyss, but I couldn’t turn back now. Not when Valkyrie and the pup depended on me finding a cure. Or so I thought. The trees thinned as I approached the edge of a desolate village, its skeletal remains standing like monuments to a forgotten time. Buildings were weathered, their walls fractured and cr
Ragnor The footsteps were strange—a melody that echoed unnaturally through the ruins of the village. My breath came in ragged bursts, the metallic tang of Garran’s blood still fresh in my mouth. My claws ached from the transformation, and the beast within me stirred with satisfaction, though I felt no relief. The ruins around me were silent, save for that haunting melody. It wasn’t the sound of prey fleeing or the rush of an enemy—it was something else entirely. A song that seemed to reach into the marrow of my bones, pulling me toward it. The beast within me, usually a storm of rage and hunger, hesitated. I froze, my claws curling against the blood-soaked ground as my vision sharpened. The melody wound its way through my mind, soothing and coaxing. My instincts screamed to ignore it, to run, but my body betrayed me. Step by step, I followed the sound, drawn deeper into the crumbling heart of the village. The daylight painted everything in shades of bright yellow, turning th
Ragnor The figure outside the packhouse didn’t move. Their glowing violet eyes were locked onto mine, unblinking. My body tensed as the beast inside stirred, its growl low and menacing, like a warning drumbeat reverberating through my chest. “Alpha!” Dwayne called from behind me, his voice sharp. “Who is it?” I didn’t answer, my eyes fixed on the figure. Something about them was wrong—unnatural. The way the shadows seemed to cling to their body, shifting like smoke, set my nerves alight. “I’m going out there,” I said, my voice like gravel. “You’re barely standing,” Dwayne snapped. “If this is another threat, you can’t face it alone.” I turned to glare at him, my claws extending in a show of dominance. “Stay here. Protect the pack.” Dwayne didn’t back down, his green eyes flaring with challenge. “Not this time. If you’re walking into a trap, I’m coming with you.” A low growl escaped my throat, but I knew arguing would waste time. Without another word, I turned and headed for
Valkyrie One day earlier *** My last cold war with Ragnor left me hollow. The silence between us had stretched like an unspoken goodbye, and now the emptiness echoed in every corner of my being. I sat by the window in my room at the packhouse, the cool moonlight spilling across the floor, bathing me in its indifferent glow. The world outside was restless—wolves patrolling the borders, whispers of rogues in the shadows—but inside, my battle was far more insidious. I pressed a hand to my belly, the faint flutter beneath my palm grounding me. The life growing within me was the only reason I hadn’t shattered completely. But it wasn’t enough to erase the ache of his absence or the sharp pang of uncertainty clawing at my sanity. Nancy entered quietly, her usual energy subdued as she set a steaming cup of herbal tea on the table beside me. “You need to rest, Val,” she urged gently, her eyes filled with concern. “I’m fine,” I murmured, though my hollow tone be
Valkyrie Anna’s golden eyes gleamed as she stood before me, her words poised like a dagger meant to strike. Nancy stormed back into the room before I could respond, her expression livid as her sharp eyes locked on Anna. “What kind of nonsense is this? You come here to extort the Luna?” Anna stepped back, her golden eyes narrowing, but she didn’t falter. “I risked everything to come here. The information I hold could save her—and her pup.” The mention of my unborn child sent a shiver down my spine. Despite the rage simmering in Nancy, I raised a hand to silence her. “Leave us, Nancy.” “Madam, you can’t—” “Yes, I can,” I responded, though my heart raced. I forced my expression to remain cool. If Anna thought she had the upper hand, she was sorely mistaken. Nancy shut the door behind her, leaving Anna and me alone in the tense silence. “So…” I murmured, leaning back slightly. “You sneak into my home uninvited, spin a vague tale of danger, and expect me to hand over m
Valkyrie “Ragnor doesn’t want to see me?” The thought of such humiliation gnawed at me. I paced the room, each step heavier than the last, my hand drifting instinctively to my belly. My pup deserved a father, a stable pack—answers. But all I had were doubts and the sharp ache of betrayal creeping violently through me. “Arghh!” I shouted, as a strange sensation coursed through me. A roaring sound echoed in my head—it wasn’t just a noise; it called to me. “Nans…” I whispered, barely able to stand. “Valkyrie!” Nancy’s voice snapped me out of my haze as she burst through the door, rushing to support me. I nearly collapsed into her arms. “What’s wrong with you?” she asked, her voice filled with concern. I shook my head, feeling the blood drain from my face. “I… I felt a strange roar within…” “A roar?” Nancy’s eyes widened in alarm. “Could it be… your wolf has awakened?” I gasped. My wolf? “I… I don’t know…” “Here, sit down. Tell me—what exactly did you hear?” “It just… roare
Valkyrie I stormed through the packhouse corridors, my bare feet slapping against the cold stone floor. Anger boiled hotter with every step, a tempest roaring inside me, threatening to spill over. My wolf, usually quiet and subdued, stirred within me—a wild, unrelenting force that was both unfamiliar and exhilarating. How dare he? The image of Ragnor flashed through my mind: his haunted eyes, the whiskey bottle clutched in his hand, and that broken, tortured expression on his face. It was as if he dared me to walk away. To give up on him. To let him drown in the misery he seemed so determined to embrace. But I wasn’t going to let him. Not because of the mate bond, or because I craved his approval. No, this was something deeper—primal and unyielding. My wolf growled low in my mind, her energy surging like a rising tide. 'We are not weak,' she whispered. 'We are not his prey.' I shoved open the door to Dwayne's office without knocking. The heavy wood slammed
Valkyrie Ragnor’s expression darkened, shifting from confusion to disbelief, and finally to something raw and unguarded. His towering presence filled the room, his aura stifling, as though the air itself grew heavier with every passing moment. “You heard what, Valkyrie?” His voice was dangerously quiet—the calm before the storm. I met his gaze head-on, refusing to cower under his intensity. “Don’t play innocent, Ragnor.” My voice trembled, not with fear but with the rage I had kept bottled for far too long. “The whispers, the rumors—they said she was here. A woman. And she never left. Did you hide her?” His amber eyes widened briefly before narrowing, his jaw tightening as if to bite back words that could wound us both. “You think I would betray you?” His words were clipped, each one cutting like a shard of glass. “You already have!” I shouted, my fists trembling at my sides. “Maybe not with her, but every time you push me away, every time you drown yourself in guilt and self-
ValkyrieSeveral months had passed, and the pack had begun to heal. The scars of war, betrayal, and loss remained, but they no longer defined us. Ragnor and I had dedicated ourselves to rebuilding—training warriors, strengthening alliances, and ensuring that no remnants of the darkness' influence remained.Yet, even as we rebuilt, I knew the darkness hadn’t disappeared. It still lingered, waiting for an opportunity to strike back. But I had come to understand something vital. Darkness and light would always exist. The world had never been about one triumphing over the other—it had always been about balance. And we stood in the middle, neither bound by one nor fully belonging to the other.And that… that was our greatest strength.One Year LaterDespite the uncertainties that still loomed, life moved forward.And today, as I held my son in my arms, I knew with every fiber of my being—no darkness, no past, no lingering curse could steal this moment from me.He was beautiful.His t
Valkyrie My voice broke as my wolf stepped forward, her silver fur gleaming under the dim light, eyes glowing with the fire of our shared soul. She let out a soft, knowing whimper before bounding toward me. The moment she pressed against me, I felt whole again, as if a part of me that had been lost was finally back where it belonged. "I thought—I thought I lost you forever." Genna nuzzled against me, her warmth seeping into my skin. 'You fought for me. You never gave up on me.' I swallowed hard, my throat thick with emotion. "Neither did you." Behind me, Ragnor let out a breath of relief, his strong hand resting on my shoulder. "Looks like fate isn’t done with you yet." The Dark Queen crossed her arms, watching us with something unreadable in her expression. "Consider it a parting gift. A second chance, if you will." I stood, wiping at my eyes before turning to her. "Why help me?" Her smirk returned, but there was something almost… fond in the way s
Valkyrie A soft breeze brushed against my skin, warm and comforting, unlike anything I had ever felt before. The scent of wildflowers filled the air, and as I opened my eyes, I was met with an endless expanse of golden light. The sky stretched endlessly above me, not blue, not dark—just a vast, peaceful glow that seemed to pulse with life. I sat up slowly, my body strangely light, as if the crushing weight of pain and exhaustion had been stripped away. My hands roamed over myself, expecting wounds, expecting the lingering sting of death—but there was nothing. No pain. No darkness. Was I… dead? "You finally woke up." "Who… are you?" My own voice sounded distant, fragile. A gentle voice welcomed me, drawing my attention. I turned to find a woman clad in flowing white robes, her presence radiating a soft, ethereal glow that blended seamlessly with the world around us. Her hair shimmered like spun silver, cascading in waves that caught the light, and her eyes—va
Valkyrie "Dark… Queen?" I murmured, barely believing what I was seeing. "Hello again, Little Creature," she mused, her voice wasn’t loud, yet it echoed through the vast hall as if the walls themselves whispered her words back. The King’s growl rumbled deep in his chest. His eyes blazed with fury. "Get back to where you belong, or you will regret this!" He lifted a hand, summoning a crackling wave of energy. It surged forward, the force so strong it made the air tremble. But she didn’t flinch. With a flick of her wrist, the shockwave shattered midair, dissolving into nothing. The effortless display of power made my stomach twist. She laughed with a mocking sound. "Weak." The king’s snarl ripped through the space between them. "What have you done?" "Nothing." The queen’s voice was laced with amusement, yet there was something deeper—something cold and calculated. Fury overtook him. His body twisted, bones cracking, shadows surging as he shifted midair. Mu
Valkyrie A sharp pulse of energy surged through my veins, and I gasped, doubling over as an unbearable heat spread beneath my skin. It was awakening against my will. The king watched me with rapt fascination, his golden eyes gleaming like victory has already his by now. "That's, My Dear. The last remnants that inside you." I forced myself upright, my breaths ragged. "I don't care whatever it is. But, one thing for sure... it doesn’t belong to you!" "Oh, but it does." He raised a hand then darkness radiated around like a mist. "You were never meant to keep it, Valkyrie. You were merely a vessel—a temporary holder of something far greater than yourself." I clenched my fists, fighting against the unseen force that pressing down on me. "If... if you think I’m just going to let you take it, then you’re even more delusional than Elyra was!" He chuckled. "Ah, but unlike Elyra, I do not intend to ask for it." A sudden wave of pressure slammed into me, stealing my bre
Valkyrie The darkness which swallowed me before now turned into something solid. The moment my feet touched it, o felt the suffocating presence of dark magic pressing against my skin like an unseen weight. It was everywhere, clinging to the very stones of the palace walls, seeping into the floors, the torches, the very fabric of this cursed place. "What the hell..." I muttered, barely audible. The cold biting into me despite the warmth of the flickering firelight that lined the grand hall. "Shhh... Valkyrie. Just enjoy the very moment." The king’s hand remained firm around my wrist, his grip unyielding, but not cruel. It was a claim. A reminder. "You feel it, don’t you?" His voice was smooth, almost amused, as he watched me take in my surroundings. "What have you done?" I shot back. I couldn't shake the uneasy feeling of this strange energy. I remembered something. Back when Elyra has overcome her power and attacked me back then. "It's an art." "No! It's not!
Valkyrie “Ragnor!” I lunged toward him, but the crushing force only grew stronger, pinning me in place. It felt like a thousand invisible hands clawing at my limbs, pressing me down as if I were nothing more than an insect beneath the king’s gaze. Ragnor's body trembled, his hands clawing at the ground as if he were fighting something within himself. His breath came in short, ragged gasps. The king chuckled, stepping closer. “Such resistance. Admirable, really. But pointless.” Ragnor lifted his head, his jaw clenched so tightly I thought his teeth might shatter. "You…” he growled through gritted teeth, “will… never… control me.” The king sighed as if bored. Then, with a mere flick of his hand, an invisible force wrenched Ragnor off his knees, lifting him into the air. "Oh, how easily they break. Even an Alpha." His voice was smooth, taunting, as he watched Ragnor struggle against the invisible force crushing him to the ground. His smirk deepened, enjoying the way Ragnor’s bod
Valkyrie My pulse thundered in my ears, drowning out everything else. The worn leather of my sword hilt bit into my palm as I tightened my grip. The Lycan King. For the first time, I stood before him—not as a whisper of prophecy, not as a hunted shadow, but face to face. And I was not ready. Ragnor tensed beside me, his breathing sharp and controlled, but I could feel it—his barely restrained fury. His wolf burned just beneath the surface, clawing to break free. The king’s golden eyes swept over us, calm, assessing, as if he had all the time in the world. His lips curled slightly—not quite a smirk, not quite a sneer. Just the insufferable confidence of someone who had already won. “I must admit,” he mused, his voice smooth as silk. “I expected you to be dead by now.” Ragnor let out a low growl. “Disappointed?” The king chuckled. “Not at all. I do enjoy a challenge.” My throat felt dry. My body screamed for rest, wounds throbbing with every breath, but weakness was
Valkyrie Phanos cursed with a hoarse voice. "Damn it, Ragnor!" But Ragnor didn’t slow. His grip on my wrist was unyielding, his pace relentless as he pulled me away from the slaughter. I twisted back. "Phanos—!" He stood his ground, bloodied and breathing hard, a savage grin splitting his face. "Go!" A wave of corrupted warriors lunged at him. He met them head-on, claws tearing into flesh, his defiance a final, burning ember in the darkness. Ragnor yanked me forward. "We can’t—" "We have to!" His voice was raw. I fought against his grip, against the instinct clawing inside me to turn back, to fight. But there was no fight left to win. The cliff’s edge loomed closer. The moonlight shimmered off the abyss below—a sheer drop into nothingness. I realized what Ragnor intended a second too late. "Ragnor, no!" His arms locked around me, and then— We jumped. The world tilted, the roar of the wind swallowing my scream. The last thing I saw before darkness took us was Phanos—st